Clerk instructs Jacqueline Simon to file consent to magistrate judge jurisdiction form

The clerk issued a notice instructing plaintiff Jacqueline Simon to file a consent or declination form to proceed before a magistrate judge. This directive comes under Administrative Order No. 428, which requires parties to indicate whether they agree to have a magistrate judge handle their case.

Simon received the notice on May 5, 2026, and must respond by May 26, 2026. The form is mandatory to determine the proper judicial authority for the case's next steps. The court provided a link to information about magistrate judges in the district to assist Simon in making an informed decision.

The case remains active but has not yet advanced beyond this procedural stage. The judge assigned to oversee this jurisdictional process is listed as 'Jurisdiction Form,' reflecting the administrative nature of this step.

The clerk’s notice signals the court’s effort to comply with local rules requiring early consent or refusal for magistrate judge jurisdiction. The next procedural move depends entirely on Simon’s timely filing of the consent or declination form.

The case docket does not yet show substantive motions or hearings, indicating that the case is still in its initial administrative phase.